March 12, 2000

ALL THINGS CONSIDERED

A FORTY DAY RETREAT Jesus began His saving work among us by retreating into the desert for forty days. Although Mark's Gospel says very little about that experience, Matthew and Luke tell us of Jesus' struggle. In the desert, He wrestled with temptation - those inner desires of all human beings: to be self-serving and self-centered.
When He emerged from the desert and His struggle, Jesus began to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom. In His self giving, He not only proclaimed this Kingdom, but He was also a living symbol of that Good News. Simply put: He did not just talk about it - He lived it!
Lent is an invitation to join Christ "in the desert". During the forty days of Lent, we simplify our lives by "giving up" (fasting), "giving in" (prayer) and "giving away" (charity). These three practices help us to grow in the life Christ and His kingdom.
This Jubilee Year of 2000 is a unique opportunity to make this Lent a very special part of making this year truly a Holy Year. By entering with the Lord into this "desert in time" there is the possibility of growing in faith and love as we have never done before.
I truly hope that your Lent will be filled with grace, possibility and joy. That together we will emerge from these "forty days in the desert" as a people who are alive in Christ as never before!
A DAY OF PRAYER! Our parish community begins Lent with a special day of prayer this Sunday. It is an opportunity for all of us to come and spend some quiet time with the Lord, to "enter the desert" with the Lord in order to deepen our relationship with Him.
The Blessed Sacrament will be in Holy Cross Chapel from the end of the 11 am Liturgy (noon) until 6 pm.
At 6 pm, we will process with the Eucharist back into the church where we will celebrate Evening Prayer, ending with Benediction (which is the blessing).
I hope as many as possible will take the opportunity to spend some time in prayer. (I would especially encourage our Ministers of Prayer and our Eucharistic Ministers.)
Fr. Dave Howell

Prayer

Ministers of Prayer Schedule
Sun., Mar. 12 Duke Davis
Mon., Mar. 13 Kathy Stegmaier, Carol McGrath
Tues., Mar. 14 Jeanette Martin, Mary Ellen Magon
Wed., Mar. 15 Patti Conahan, Becky Even
Thurs., Mar. 16 Russ Gentner, Susan Fragosa
Fri., Mar. 17 Joyce Gonda, Lisa Klein
Sat., Mar. 18 Jan Baldinger

Mass Intentions for the Week

Sunday, March 12
Gn 9:8-15/1 Pt 3:18-22/Mk 1:12-15
Monday, March 13
Lv 19:1-2,11-18/Mt 25:31-46
9:00 a.m. Carl & Mary Wojewodzki
Tuesday, March 14
Is 55:10-11/Mt 6:7-15
9:00 a.m. Lynn Howell
Wednesday, March 15
Jon 3:1-10/Lk 11:29-32
7:00 p.m. Francis Barazsu
Thursday, March 16
Est C:12,14-16,23-25/Mt 7:7-12
9:00 a.m. Rudy Miller
Friday, March 17
Ez 18:21-28/Mt 5:20-26
9:00 a.m. Ethyl Belan
Saturday, March 18
Dt 26:16-19/Mt 5:43-48
Sunday, March 19
Gn 22:1-2,9a,10-13,15-18/Rom 8:31b-34/Mk 9:2-10
4:30 (Vigil) Catherine Schumont
9:00 a.m. Marilyn & A. Richard Crowell
11:00 a.m. St. Mary Magdalen Parish

March 17, St. Patrick, Bishop. Patron saint of Ireland and one of the most beloved of all saints. Magonius Sucatus Patricius, a Roman citizen born in North Wales, was a deacon's son and grandson of a priest. The Irish raiders captured him at the age of sixteen and he was taken to Ireland and sold into slavery. His six years of servitude brought about a profound religious transformation in him. In 407 he escaped and traveled about two hundred miles and boarded a ship. Patrick came into the spiritual care of the monastic institutions of Gaul and fulfilled his longing for an Irish apostolate.
In 431, Palladius served as a missionary to bring Christianity to the Irish. Patrick replaced him and served for the next 29 years. He eventually won the conversion of almost all the Irish people.
Details of Patrick's life and labors are fraught with questions. His expulsion of snakes from Ireland is perhaps the most famous example. National holidays in his honor are held in numerous countries.

Prayer List

Please pray that the sick will respond to God's healing will, especially: Lou Lawrence, Lloyd Rupp, Joan & John Becker, Scott Flowerday, Katie Barazsu, Danielle Snowgold, Thomas Payne, Bishop Povish, Winnie, Bud Newberry, Evelyn, John Pepa, Joanna Bloese, Cheryl Franks, Susan, Richard Sixbery, Al, Raynald Raymond, Pete, Al & Ann Polcyn, Miriam Marker, Matt Even, Eileen Auld, Cornelius Smits, Ellen Colombo, Romaine & Chuck Colombo, Emerson Brown, Adeline Smith, Larry Cecil, Ken Carson, Norman Moon, Shirley Brake, Karen, Laurie Deirlein, Ron Schaar, Jeannette Wood, Merle, Keith Freel, Tom Cavanaugh, Edith Reagan, Donovan, Valerie Black, Russ Gardner, Maureen, Orville Pelfrey, Roe, Janice McHeish, Rose Kumler, Margaret Resconich, Rosalie Fradette and John Sweeney.

Gifts from God

Fiscal Year runs from July 1,1999-June 30,2000
Total income for the week of March 4/5,2000
Approximately 1404 people participated:
Using Stewardship envelopes.................$15,653
Loose Collection/other......................$ 944
Using Children envelopes....................$ 50
Stewardship Total........... 16,647
Weekly Expenses/Including Mortgage.......... 16,682
+/- for week without Building Pledges...... (- 35)
Building Fund Pledge Payments............... 3,360
+/- for week.............................. (+3,325)
+/- year to date without Building Pledges$ (-55,104)
+/- year to date with Building Pledges $ + 76,333
Thank you for your gifts

Dates to Remember

Monday, March 13
12:15 p.m. Senior/Retiree Lunch
7:00 p.m. Evening Prayer/Reflection (Church)
7:30 p.m. E-Team (Conference Room)
Tuesday, March 14
10:00 a.m. Scripture & Stitches (Adult Formation)
7:00 p.m. BeFrienders (Rectory LL)
7:30 p.m. Charity & Justice (Room 2 & 3)
7:30 p.m. Inquiry/Catechumenate (Adult Formation)
7:30 p.m. Catholic Catechumenate (Social Hall)
Wednesday, March 15
6:30 p.m. Religious Education
7:00 p.m. Liturgy (Main Worship Space)
7:30 p.m. Pastoral Council (Conference Room)
Thursday, March 16
10:00 a.m. Passion Narratives (Adult Formation)
6:30 p.m. Religious Education
7:30 p.m. Music Ministry
7:30 p.m. Parish Council Small Group Meeting (Rectory LL)
Friday, March 17
7:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross
Saturday, March 18
8:30-4:00 Michigan Peace Team Workshop (Social Hall)
4:30 p.m. Blood Pressure Screening
Sunday, March 19
9:00 & 11:00 Blood Pressure Screening
9:30, 11, 5:45 Religious Education
7:00 p.m. Youth Group
7:00 p.m. How to Pray the Scriptures
7:30 p.m. Grief Support Group (Rectory LL)

Religious Education

We congratulate the children who received first Penance. May they continue to grow in the sacrament!
We are planning a Family Lenten Retreat on March 26 from 12-5. It will day of growth, sharing and love for your family. Please call the office to register.
There will be a meeting for all parents with children in the Eucharist program on Monday, March 20 at 7 P.M. Please plan to attend.
Sister Maryetta

ON THE JOURNEY

Our Small Faith groups began last week. However, if you haven't had an opportunity to sign up for one of the Follow Me groups, please check with me for times and places. Our lenten small faith communities provide an opportunity to meet with other parishioners in an informal setting to discuss the readings for the upcoming weekend and the impact they have for us. We've made every attempt to locate them in as many different directions as possible, so there should be one near you.
Our Scripture Study on Thursday mornings has begun focusing on the Resurrection and Passion Narratives. May this hour and a half reflection on the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ bring a more meaningful dimension to our lenten experience!
If you are a Mary Magdalen Retiree, on Monday, March 13, please join us with your bag lunch in the Adult Formation Room at 12:15 p.m. for a little Irish Music and green dessert. We will be looking at our program for the rest of the year and scheduling dates, times, speakers and/or activities. Contact me at the parish offices for more information.
Yours on the journey, Marilyn

The Easter Tree of Life has been prepared in the Gathering Space. Please help this worthy cause by taking a tag or two from the tree and returning with a gift to assist the elderly in Livingston County.

Please tape your tag securely to the gift. We will be delivering gifts to Brighton and Hartland Senior Centers, Catholic Social Services, Medilodge and the Greenery in Howell. We need volunteers to transport the gifts after April 9. If you can help deliver gifts, call Mary Korch (810)227-8384. This is an excellent Lenten project, and we hope every parishioner will participate.

Youth Group

Kathy Rigley has begun facilitating a small faith sharing group for Sr. High teens every Thursday. Any high school student is invited to join from 7-8:30 in the youth room.

SKI TRIP

Since I was not able to attend this year's ski trip, I am anxiously awaiting to hear about how it went. I know with the warm weather we've had, there was much concern whether any skiing would take place. I would like very much for you to mark your calendar now for March 31. That is the date we have set for our teens to go to a youth meeting at St. Anne's in Detroit. As I mentioned last weekend, the purpose would be to break down barriers and develop a rapport and to learn from each other. Any Sr. High teen or adult who would be interested in participating is welcome to join us.

M.U.D. NEWS

Saturdays, April 1 and 8, from 8am to 1pm, is a baby-sitting clinic for the M.U.D. students. It will be taught by a Red Cross instructor and the students will receive a certificate after the session is completed. There are only 8 spots available, so be sure to sign up soon in the offices at the front desk. The cost is $35. We will be offering more of these sessions in the future.
Also in April, the M.U.D. students will again be going to Ashley Court. This time we will be stuffing the eggs that will be used at our Easter Egg Hunt scheduled for April 22. A sign up sheet will go out in a couple weeks.
Margaret Callaghan

CANDY DRIVE

We will be having a candy drive April 1/2 & April 8/9. Please donate a bag of individually wrapped Easter Candy for Our Annual Easter Egg Hunt. Individual candies need to be able to fit in a 2" plastic egg. There will be a large basket in the gathering area the weekend of April 1/2 & April 8/9 in which you can place your donated candy. Hope you can join us on April 22 from 12 noon to 2:00pm for all the festivities. Thank you for your support. Any questions please contact Mary Ann Trudeau (517)552-0819 or Vince Wolterman (810)227-7131. Community Life & the Youth Group

HELP!

The response for pot-luck dishes for various occasions (funerals, retreats, etc.) has been overwhelming, and for this we are most grateful. But unfortunately, we have begun to accumulate serving dishes and tupperware in the kitchen and are rapidly running out of space. If you have donated to one of our events and have not picked up your serving dish, please do so as soon as possible. It will be very helpful to have the space for future activities.

MARDI GRAS

Our family here at St. Mary Magdalen gathered together Saturday, March 4 for our Mardi Gras. We enjoyed a variety of appetizers, main dishes and plenty of desserts (including King Cakes).
All the costumes were very creative and Betty & Ed Prise were selected as our King & Queen. They were awarded an evening at the Courtyard by Marriott Motel. Several others in costumes received gifts donated by the following local merchants: Brighton Bar & Grill Brighton Cinema Country Lane Flowers Country Squire Oak Pointe Country Club Rollerama Stillwater Grill Shear Innovations Thank you Mike Christie, our DJ, for providing the wonderful music for the evening. Special thanks to all the members of the Community Life (fun & games) for sharing all your time and talents, which made this a great Mardi Gras evening.

Do you like the way you were "WELCOMED" into the parish? Well, the Welcoming Ministry Team needs a few good people who are willing to meet new people and share the vision of the parish with others. Training is provided. Some of the welcoming team has been on for five years and they need a break. So please consider becoming a member of the Welcoming Ministry Team. Contact Deacon Dave (810) 229-8624 if you are interested.

Come together for Family Retreat Day on March 26 Presentations on the theme, "The Body of Christ; the Family of Christ" will help us to recognize how each of our families can reflect the Body of Christ--the head, the hands, feet, and heart. Baby-sitting will be available for children under 6 years old. Registration closes March 19. Forms are available in the front of Church.

Saint Mary Magdalen K of C "GOLF OUTING"

Mark your calendar now for Saturday, May 20, when the Knights of Columbus will host 18 holes of Scramble Golf to raise money for the pavilion to be built near the barn. More details will follow in future bulletins.

ENCORE Youth Theater presents "Hansel and Gretel" Saturday, March 25, 7:00pm at the Hartland High School Performing Arts Center. This delightful family classic will entertain you with live music, a dazzling twelve foot tall gingerbread house and a hilarious "flying" witch. Come out and support two of our own younger brothers, Jimmy Leonard as Hansel and Scott Osdras as the Troll. Tickets are $5.00 and are available at the Cromaine Library and at the door the night of the performance.

50+ Livingston County Area Catholic Council on Aging The next meeting will be held on Thursday, March 23, at the Livingston County Catholic Social Services office at 2020 E. Grand River, Suite 103, Howell. The meeting will be from 10:00am to 12:00 noon. All 50+ Catholics are invited to attend.

50+ PILGRIMAGE 2000/LENTEN RETREAT

All Christian Men & Women over age 50 are invited to attend a lenten retreat on Thursday, April 6, at St. John the Baptist Church in Howell, from 10:00am to 2:30pm with Mass at 11:00. $7.00 covers lunch. Contact Betty Polaske, 810-227-5370, by March 24.

COURAGE and ENCOURAGE are Catholic spiritual support groups for people and their families who struggle with same-sex attraction or behaviors. If you have questions , please call (517) 393-0806. A group of dedicated lay volunteers with a message machine and a shared secretary will respond as soon as they are able. These support groups are faithful to Catholic teaching and are endorsed by the Pontifical Council for the Family and the Catholic Diocese of Lansing. An ecumenical workshop for pastoral, youth and lay ministers as well as concerned people will be held Saturday, April 8, 8:30am to 6:00pm at Kensington Community Church. Call the Michigan Family Forum (800) 644-9111 for more information.

Voting in the Hartland School Bond Issue on April 4? Board members will be available after all Masses on March 18 and 19. They will have the latest information and be able to answer any questions you may have. We invite you to stop by and get all the necessary information to make an informed decision.

FISH FRIES Old St. Patrick's Church in Whitmore Lake will sponsor Fish Fries on all the Fridays of Lent, from 4:30 to 8:00pm. Prices ranging from adults at $6.50 down; free for children 4 and under, this includes fish, choice of potato, salad bar, roll, and beverage (dessert extra charge). For more information call (734) 662-8141.

YOUNG ADULT LENTEN RETREAT

That Your Joy May be Complete This annual diocesan retreat features Peter & Debbie Herbeck on the great themes of the Jubilee year. Beginning Friday evening, March 17, through Saturday afternoon, it will be held at St. Thomas in Ann Arbor. The cost is $35 for both days (scholarships are available). For more information, call Glenn Smith (734) 761-8066, ext. 210.